Future directions for research on tissue-engineered trachea

As the only way for air to enter the lungs, the trachea plays an indispensable role in conducting, cleaning, and humidifying air. Tumors, trauma, and congenital disease of the trachea are serious threats to patients [1]. Local tracheal disease can be treated with a balloon or stent, but for extensive tracheal disease, tracheal reconstruction after surgical resection is the only treatment [2–4]. However, the tension of the anastomotic site also increases with expansion of the resection range, which causes a series of complications, such as poor anastomotic healing, anastomotic fistulae, and tracheal rupture, and even life-threatening complications in severe cases [5].